Wineries and Vineyards in New South Wales, Australia
New South Wales is Australia’s most populous state and where the iconic structures of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge can be found. While it is where the most popular city in the country is located, it is also renowned for its national parks, as well as other coastal cities with wine regions that contribute to over 27% of the country’s supply.
In fact, this state’s productions are some of the finest in Australia, and I can definitely say this for certain as an American who has tasted different varieties of wines coming from different countries, and having sampled some of the best from the “land down under” myself on a recent trip. To share further some of my little escapades to some of NSW’s best wine regions and their specialties, read on.
NSW’s Top Wine Regions
Hunter Valley
I always thought that grapes could only grow in places where the climate is cold, or at least colder than tropical countries. I couldn’t be any more wrong when I went to the Hunter Valley wine region as it was a bit hot over there, which surprised me as I was there for the vineyards and of course, the wine. It turned out that I wasn’t the only one who thought of it as somewhat foolish because over 200 years ago, nobody believed that this viticulture pioneer’s dream was even possible until they tried and it turned out to be very successful.
Now, Hunter Valley’s hilly landscape is threaded with grape vines all over, and even some of the vineyards from the 1800s are still in operation up to this day. As a result, you can currently knock at over 150 cellar doors to taste Hunter Valley’s best wines like Sémillon, Chardonnay, and Shiraz. Note that if you want the best Australian Cabernet, you’re better off heading to South Australia. Also, take this opportunity to check out some of its available private tours and learn the art of winemaking, or just hire an e-bike to wander around different vineyards.
Orange
The city of Orange in the Central Tablelands region of NSW is 254 kilometres away from Sydney or close to a 3.5-hour drive. The Orange wine region is a contiguous area 600 metres or 2,000 feet above sea level and sits within the Orange city itself, Cabonne Shire, and Blayney Shire.
Orange is known as an Australian Geographical Indication and was listed as an official entry in the Register of Protected Names on October 31, 1997. This means that “Orange wine” is not allowed to be used as a description of skin-contact white wines. The term should only be used if the fruit was actually sourced from that place.
The first recorded commercial planting of grapevines was recorded in 1980 and the industry has now grown into 80 vineyards to date and 30 cellar doors. The varied terroirs of this region produce top-quality cool-climate wines which include Chardonnay, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Gris. You might want to add this to your itinerary, especially when attending its annual Orange F.O.O.D. Week festival that happens in April or the Orange Wine Festival every October.
Shoalhaven Coast
This wine region is located on the southeastern coast of NSW and is bordered by Sydney, Canberra, and Wollongong. It is in fact around 200 kilometres away from Sydney or just over a two-hour drive. It got its name in 1797 when the British explorer George Bass, called it “Shoal Haven” due to how low the depth of the river mouth was. Tourist attractions and activities are abound here like horseback riding through the vineyards and art galleries. For food and wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts, top-class restaurant tours and meet-the-maker experiences are worth trying.
“One of my favourite things about living in Wollongong, is being able to visit so many friendly wine-makers across the Shoalhaven. I have learned so much from them, while enjoying the exceptional fruits of their labour.” said Trent Bourke, a Wollongong pressure washing specialist.
Shoalhaven Coast currently has 16 cellar doors that had the privilege of contributing to Australia’s wine production of 400,000 bottles or around 500 tonnes. The region is well-known for its French red wine Chambourcin, which is produced through crossbreeding. Other varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Semillon, and Shiraz.
Southern Highlands
Locally referred to as just “Highlands”, this wine region is 110 kilometres in southwest of Sydney or about a 90-minute drive. Another option would be to ride a train from Sydney to Bowral which can take about two hours of travel time. This region is a part of the Great Dividing Range, otherwise known as the East Australian Cordillera which is an expansive cluster of mountain ranges, rolling hills, and plateaus.
This wine region with undulating landscape, has vineyards sitting at as high as 700 metres above sea level. This is why it produces some of the finest wines in cool climates in all of Australia. Despite the relatively new wine industry, which dates back to the 1980s, it boasts itself of having 60 wineries and 17 cellar doors, compared to other wine regions that were established in the 1800s but have fewer of these. Its most prized wines are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Riesling.
Canberra District
This wine region is very unique in the sense that it is situated in two locations – the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. However, the majority of the vineyards can be found in NSW. Canberra District has an extreme Continental climate which is typically warm and dry during the day and cold at night during summer.
The industry was traced from the 1970s, but the wine production had started even as early as the 1960s in the settlement near Yass town. Now, it has 140 vineyards, with more than 40 wineries. Activities include visiting cellar doors, staying overnight in accommodations within the vines, and meeting the winemakers. Its top wines are Riesling and Shiraz but several varietals include Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon, among others.